Kansas City Police Department, Missouri
End of Watch: Saturday, December 23, 1916
Age: 60
Tour of Duty: 20 years
Badge Number: Not available
Cause of Death: Gunfire
Date of Incident: December 16, 1916
Weapon Used: Handgun; Revolver
Suspect Info: Died in mental hospital in 1931
Patrolman John Houlehan was shot when he and his partner attempted to question a suspicious man near Park and Independence Avenues. The suspect pulled a revolver from inside his coat; shot Patrolman Houlehan, and then engaged in a running gun fight with his partner. As they entered a dark alley his partner was shot in the hip. Several citizens attracted to the scene chased down the suspect and detained him as other officers arrived.
Patrolman Houlehan died seven days later from his wounds. He had been with the agency for 20 years.
In February of 1917 the 22-year-old suspect was convicted of first degree murder and sentenced to life. On December 9, 1917, he was admitted to the prison hospital with two broken ankles after an unsuccessful attempt to escape. As he scaled down the outside wall his rope broke. In 1919 he made another unsuccessful attempt to escape. He was transferred to the Fulton Insane Asylum on January 4, 1921, and died there on January 10, 1931.